‘Sometimes it’s best to lead the train from the caboose’

The team at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center early this year launched the Circle Back podcast, which invites successful area executives to revisit their roots and their journeys to success. Among those taking part in the first season is Darrell Freeman, who founded technology services and staffing venture Zycron in 1991.

In this lightly edited excerpt, Freeman discusses landing a contract to supply HCA Healthcare and building a mentor relationship with Jack Bovender, the hospital giant’s CEO from 2001 until 2009. At the time, HCA had 35 IT companies under contract and was looking to narrow that group down to three.